Automation of Continuous Portable Water Distribution System at the Menengai Geothermal Project in Kenya

The present case study of the automation of portable water distribution network achieved in Menengai project: A case study in Menengai was carried out with a specific objective of enhancing water distribution system, effective planning, solving hydraulic problems and development of existing water distribution network as the main requirement of drilling geothermal wells. Previously, water distribution has been manually pumped where we have been experiencing a lot of water hammer, parting of distribution lines and incurring a lot of cost in pumping.
We attempt to use Automation simulation analysis to model water distribution systems. This automation application is used to perform extended-period simulation of the hydraulic and water behaviour within pressurized pipe networks, which consist of pipes, nodes, pumps, valves, storage tanks, and reservoirs. It can be used to track the flow of water in each pipe, the pressure at each node, elevation of each pipe, the height of the water in each tank and source tracing throughout the network during a simulation period to the desired drilling sites. The process carried out on the designing of the water supply System. With the help of software “EPANET”. (Webber et.al., 1971).
The main objectives of the present study are as follows: Future forecasting of water demand in drilling sites; Development of water automation distribution network for Menengai, Baringo Silali and other future water project by improving the existing water line; To cut cost of the pipes and booster pumps installation to boost water in Menengai project area.
During the study it was notice that when the elevation is less, the pressure is higher for some particulars nodes and, if the pipe diameter is less the head loss would be higher with high pressure. Higher pressure is decreased by increasing the pipe diameter since the flow in pipe, diameter, velocity, pressure and head loss are interrelated to each other. Also to get efficient results for water distribution system on this, the parameters should always remain constant, the diameter can be changed to fulfil the flow.

Key words: Automation, Menengai, simulation, water and geothermal fields